2006年VOA标准英语-Violence Overshadows Hungary's 1956 Revolution

By Stefan Bos
Budapest
23 October 2006

Street riots and anti-government demonstrations¹ have overshadowed the 50th anniversary of Hungary's 1956 Revolution against Soviet² rule. The arrival of presidents, prime ministers and royals from different countries did not ease tensions.

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		Anti-government demonstrators on the streets of Budapest

Riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at anti-government protesters near the parliament building. Hungarian demonstrators even gained control of a Soviet-era tank which had been parked in Budapest as part of the 50th anniversary commemorations of the 1956 Revolution against Soviet rule. Dozens of people were injured in the fighting.

The protesters are angry because, they say, Communists have returned to power. Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany was leader of the Communist youth movement. The demonstrators are

also furious that he has admitted to lying about the dire³ economic situation of the country in order to win re-election this year.

Hungary's main right-wing opposition⁴ party Fidesz boycotted⁵ official ceremonies Monday, holding instead its own rally that drew as many as 100,000 people. Among them, Wilfried Martens, president of the European People's Party, the largest within the European Union. He told the crowd that only Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is responsible for the current tensions in Hungary.

"The present Hungarian upheaval⁶ is caused by one man," said Wilfried Martens.

The opposition rally, combined with the riots, overshadowed government events designed to mark the anniversary of the failed revolt that sealed Hungary's fate as a Soviet satellite state until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.

In front of the Hungarian parliament building, the Socialist-led government tried to hold commemorations with dignitaries, including presidents, prime ministers and royals.

As riot police looked on, a military band tried to outdo those shouting slogans against the government. Officials from around the world placed white roses at the foot of a marble monument commemorating⁷ those who died in the failed revolution.

The fight for freedom, democracy and independence from the Soviet Union began October 23, but after initial optimism, the revolt was crushed by Russian troops less than two weeks later.

Speaking inside the parliament building, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso suggested to reporters he realized the anniversary came amid Hungary's largest political crisis since the collapse⁸ of Communism. However, he said he believes the political parties can overcome the difficulties.

"I have great confidence in the democracy in Hungary," said Jose Manuel Barroso. "We have democratic institutions and as I said in my speech in a democracy there is not a single problem for which we cannot find a political solution."

Barosso said he could not agree with the view that the goals of the revolution remain unrealized. He said although the revolt was crushed, it helped create a movement that enabled Europe to eventually be united in peace, freedom and democracy.

1 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

6 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

7 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

8 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。